Windy City winds?

[Benning Boy]

Will be in Chicago Wednesday. Forecast says it will be windy. From experience I know straight winds aren't a big problem when kilted, but swirling winds around buildings and such can set a kilt flying. Anyone ever been kilted in a big city, like Chicago, on a windy day? Have any tips? I'll be wearing an 8-yarder of 13 ounce stuff.

[Andrew Breecher]

The surprise gusts mostly come as you approach the corner of a block. Just have your hands at your sides, and all will be well.

As I've heard it, Chicago got the moniker "Windy City" because of it's talking politicians, and not because of any particular atmospheric gusts.

[Mikilt]

I was kilted downtown a few weeks ago in a 8 yard, 12 oz PV kilt and there were significant winds. I was mostly indoors, but I had to hold my kilt down while I was outside because of the wind.

It's true what Andrew Breecher says about how Chicago got its nickname, but be aware that wind gusts as they whip around buildings downtown are no joke.

[James Hood]

Yup, the nickname is from earlier Chicago era politicos, their tradition being carried on "boldly" by every crop, since.

However, the city's being at the convergence of prevailing winds out of the west coming over the plains, Illinois' flat-ness, that great big freshwater inland sea to the immediate east and winds often coming straight south from the Arctic circle down the west side of said great lake, "The Hawk," whick brings frigid east winds in the dead of winter...and the aforementioned wind tunnels at the base of the endless tall buildings...

...make paying attention to where the bottom of on's kilt is, somewhat important.

[robert_law]

was on a walk along coastal path in Fife a week ago , and the kilt I was wearing was to light a bit of a breeze kilt flying had to hold it down a few times , I used the kilt pin to attach apron of kilt to inner kilt ? this helped ! thanks to Queen Victoria who introduced the kilt pin !

[Benning Boy]

Thanks for the tips. I learned about The Hawk back in the late '60s when soldiers from Chicago explained it to me. The Hawk had a savage cousin where we served, it almost ripped your skin off -- when wearing clothes.

We've decided to just spend a leisurely day strolling around within walking range of our hotel on Wabash. We'll be on Michigan Avenue a bit. As I read the map, that puts us pretty close to the lake, and the winds are forecast from the NE, gusty, coming off the lake. It likely will be turbulent downtown. It looks like a Skirt Alert day. I'll just have to be careful, I guess.

[WillowEstate]

Seems to warrant a heavy-ish kilt pin but don't pin the aprons together, you may damage one or both. Your right hand by your side should be enough to control any untoward movement. Perhaps not a day for going regimental!

[James Hood]

Wednesday may only be near 40F, about 15F below normal.

We had five 1" to 1 1/2 inch diameter locust and maple branches come down today in the wind, not yet budded, so no air resistance worth noting.

[auld argonian]

I think that the best challenge is to walk across the Michigan Avenue Bridge kilted while there's a stiff wind…and try to maintain your composure.

Best,

AA

[tripod]

Been caught in the wind a few times, I've found that the pleats rise showing ones posterior, but the front aprons are held down by my sporran. So no real foul.